Alone in the world… Alone against the Irish, Welsh, and English, Stade Toulousain is going to war. After a two-month hiatus, the European Cup is back in action. On Saturday, the Toulouse armada will fly to Wales to face the Cardiff Blues once more in the H-Cup quarter-finals at the Millennium Stadium. Last year, Toulouse hosted, and defeated, the Welsh team at the same stage of the competition.
Historically, the matchups between these two teams have tended to favor the Red and Blacks, but this year will be different. The Blues are experiencing a revival, reflecting the successes of their national team. Additionally, on their home soil, Cardiff will play in the Anglo-Welsh Cup final (on the upcoming April 18). Stade Toulousain will also have strong arguments to present, especially with the return of their warriors.
Skrela: Fact or Fiction?
As the first team to qualify for the Top 14 semi-finals, Stade Toulousain is approaching this H-Cup quarter-final in optimal conditions. The combined returns of David Skrela and Byron Kelleher, last Saturday on the Brive pitch, have boosted the morale of Noves’ men. Kelleher, after a six-week absence due to a knee sprain, seems to be regaining his full physical capabilities. However, a setback for Stade Toulousain is David Skrela’s uncertainty for this weekend’s trip. Suffering from rib injuries for several long weeks, the international fly-half has reportedly been injured again. Skrela is expected to undergo medical examinations in the coming days to confirm whether or not he will join the team in Wales.
Another blow for Stade Toulousain, on the banks of the Garonne, is the injury to Romain Millo-Chluski, the second-rower, and to the cervicals, just like Jean-Baptiste Poux. The French prop, injured against Ireland in the opening of the Six Nations Tournament and facing Stade Français, relapsed at Brive and is unable to recover from this recurring injury.
As before every major event, the Stade Toulousain infirmary fills up. Fact or fiction? Only Guy Noves really knows the state of his squad as they aim to reach their sixth H-Cup semi-final in seven years.
